The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, which means that it consists of a ball-shaped piece of bone that fits neatly into a cartilage-lined and fluid-filled cup. This allows for a wide range of motion. However, because the hip bears so much of the body's weight, it can become damaged or worn down. In these cases, surgeons may recommend that the hip joint be replaced with an artificial hip.
Immediate Complications
Because total hip replacement involves surgery, there are certain immediate risks from the procedure. One serious potential complication is adverse reactions to the anesthesia. Because the surgery requires multiple hours of work, patients are put under general anesthesia, which can lead to their breathing and heart rate becoming dangerously low. In some cases, this slowed heart rate can send the patient into shock and must be immediately corrected. According to the Mayo Clinic, another potential risk is infection. Although the surgery is done in a sterile environment, bacteria still sometimes are able to get into the incisions where they can cause dangerous infections that can either damage the surrounding tissue or invade the bloodstream, leading to sepsis. As a result, many patients are given antibiotics after the procedure to help ward off infections. Another complication is fractures of the leg bones as a result of the procedure.
Later Complications
According to Medline, another potential complication from total hip replacement is the development of blood clots in the leg, also known as deep vein thromboses. The blood in the legs' veins does not flow very quickly and requires muscle contractions to aid its movement. Because after the procedure the patient's mobility is limited, this can cause the blood to become static and form blood clots, which can either lead to painful swelling in the leg. Blood clots can also break into small pieces (called emboli) and block off small arteries elsewhere in the body, which can cause a heart attack or a stroke. Finally, sometimes the immune system attempts to attack the material of the prosthesis, causing a sudden rush of inflammation that can be very painful and damage the nearby tissue.
Prosthesis Complications
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the most common complication that arises from total hip replacements is dislocation of the joint. This can happen because the prosthetic joint is slightly smaller than the normal joint, which makes it easier for the prosthesis to slip out of place. In addition, the prosthetic joint can either break down or become loose over time simply due to regular wear and tear. As a result, many patients that have a hip replaced need to have the surgery performed again to replace the prosthetic joint. Another potential complication from the prosthesis is that it can cause one leg to be slightly longer or shorter than the other.
